China will establish an international maritime judicial center, a report from the country’s top court said Sunday, as it seeks to shore up territorial claims to the South China Sea at the center of a growing regional dispute. The decision comes as an international tribunal prepares to decide a case related to the country’s claims in the South China Sea, where it has built a series of artificial islands capable of hosting military facilities. Beijing has refused to participate in the arbitration brought by the Philippines in hopes of settling competing territorial claims in the region, where China has made sweeping assertions of sovereignty.

China to put up international maritime court. (2016, March 14). Manila Standard, pp. A1, A2.